Harold P. Brown
| Harold Pitney Brown | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born | September 16, 1857 Janesville, Wisconsin |
| Died | 1944 Volusia, Florida |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | self-educated |
| Engineering career | |
| Discipline | Electrical engineer |
| Employer(s) | The Western Electric Manufacturing Company of Chicago, Brush Electric Company, Private consultant |
| Awards | Edward Longstreth Medal |
Harold Pitney Brown (September 16, 1857, Janesville, Wisconsin – 1944 Volusia, Florida) was an American electrical engineer and inventor known for his activism in the late 1880s against the use of alternating current for electric lighting in New York City and around the country (during the "War of Currents").
Brown was mostly self-educated, working for several companies in the fledgling electrical field before striking out on his own, working on his own inventions as well as hiring himself out as a consultant.
After several deaths were caused by alternating current arc lighting lines in New York City, Brown came to prominence in June 1888, claiming in the press and then in public meetings that AC was more deadly than direct current and that the arc lighting companies were cutting corners and using AC to save money at the cost of public safety. He conducted public demonstrations (electrocuting animals with AC) then lobbied around the country trying to limit AC transmission line voltages to 300 volts, tactics which had him using the press to directly attack the countries largest AC equipment manufacturer, Westinghouse Electric. He also pushed to have the first electric chair, which was being developed by the state of New York, be powered with AC current, provided by Westinghouse generators he had surreptitiously acquired. His involvement in these events is controversial since he was working parallel with (some documents show colluded with) Thomas Edison, showing a preference for Edison's direct current power system and advocating for severe restrictions on AC power systems that would put Edison's competitors at a disadvantage.
Harold P Brown was born in Janesville, Wisconsin on September 16, 1857, the son of General Theodore F. Brown and Frances Brown. His family dated back to the Plymouth Colony (Peter Browne being a passenger on the Mayflower) with members participating in the American Revolutionary War and the War of 1812. His father was in the American Civil War and received an honorary rank of brigadier general for his role in the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain.
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